1. The way an audience perceives the play is shaped by the choice of performance venue, as well as the set that is designed for the play. Indeed, all the elements that you see and hear during a performance are bound to shape your perception of the play. Which of the following venues do you think can best meet the needs of the play?
I think proscenium theatre is the most suitable type of venue choice to have Split Second performed. Proscenium theatre is when the audience faces the stage. “Wings” sit by the left and right sides of the stages, used to store scenery, effects and act as waiting areas for actors. This type of layout lets the flexibility of lighting, costumes, and changing scenes be easy because it can all be done on the sides super quickly. I think its important that everyone gets a front and direct view of the intense scenes and dialogue that take place, especially in the beginning of the play. Keeping the audience in the front is a must so everyone is exposed to the same intensity of what happens. If the play production is more basic, this type of theatre setting will do a good job of keeping everything simple, yet delivering the message in a powerful way.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
Some of the props are big, like the car, and the transition of scenes pose a challenge to keep everything as seamless as possible. I think creating background props to distinguish scenes is going to be a challenge to the design team, because in the play it doesn't really describe how to design those. There should be some way the team can make sure the audience can differentiate between multiple scene changes so no one gets confused. I think other than that, there aren't any other red flags I see involving the design team. As long as they can be creative but also stay true to the message of the play, the outcome of the performance will be good.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character.
William Willis, the white man who gets killed by Val after the racist comments and escalating violence, should be dressed kind of "dark" and imply he doesn't get involved with good things. The scene for this costume would be the beginning one, as explained in the first sentence. He should be dressed in kind of baggy jeans, a hooded jacket, and a light colored shirt. I think this costume accentuates his character because the hooded outfit gives a ominous sign of whats to come. The baggy jeans and normal kind of shirt would make him seem not entirely trashy, and give off a vibe that isn't too out of the ordinary. An example of the jeans could be this:
An example of the hooded jacket could be:
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
The lighting in the beginning should be dark, to accentuate the darkness and bad things that are about to come. Overall, I think the mood and tone of this play is on the somber and heavier side, so lighting shouldn't be too bright in any of the scenes. One thing the production should focus on is when there are scenes with just two characters talking, the light should only be on them and the rest of the stage should be dark. Attention really needs to be given to the dialogue and action, so making sure we only keep the lighting on the main stuff ensures this will happen. One scene where the light should be bright is when Val lies to Parker. The light being bright can symbolize his growing guilt and the hole he is digging even further as he continues to lie to his superior and society.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as pre-show music or transitions from one scene to another.
The music, at certain scenes when they use it, should be powerful and intense. Soothing or "low-key" music shouldn't be used because it doesn't correlate with the atmosphere of this play. Music that arouses the feeling of tension, violence, or adrenaline are perfect, especially for the first scene. The gunshot sound effect should be loud, so it shocks the audience and makes them realize the intensity and dire consequences of Val's actions. With the scenes that show Val's internal thoughts and the guilt racked up, around the time he talks to his dad, music can be somber, but not calm.
I think proscenium theatre is the most suitable type of venue choice to have Split Second performed. Proscenium theatre is when the audience faces the stage. “Wings” sit by the left and right sides of the stages, used to store scenery, effects and act as waiting areas for actors. This type of layout lets the flexibility of lighting, costumes, and changing scenes be easy because it can all be done on the sides super quickly. I think its important that everyone gets a front and direct view of the intense scenes and dialogue that take place, especially in the beginning of the play. Keeping the audience in the front is a must so everyone is exposed to the same intensity of what happens. If the play production is more basic, this type of theatre setting will do a good job of keeping everything simple, yet delivering the message in a powerful way.
2. What are some of the challenges posed by the play on the stage design team?
Some of the props are big, like the car, and the transition of scenes pose a challenge to keep everything as seamless as possible. I think creating background props to distinguish scenes is going to be a challenge to the design team, because in the play it doesn't really describe how to design those. There should be some way the team can make sure the audience can differentiate between multiple scene changes so no one gets confused. I think other than that, there aren't any other red flags I see involving the design team. As long as they can be creative but also stay true to the message of the play, the outcome of the performance will be good.
3. Choose a character from the play and suggest how she/he should be dressed. In what ways do you think the costume would help accentuate his/her character? Be sure to indicate which scene you have selected to costume that character.
William Willis, the white man who gets killed by Val after the racist comments and escalating violence, should be dressed kind of "dark" and imply he doesn't get involved with good things. The scene for this costume would be the beginning one, as explained in the first sentence. He should be dressed in kind of baggy jeans, a hooded jacket, and a light colored shirt. I think this costume accentuates his character because the hooded outfit gives a ominous sign of whats to come. The baggy jeans and normal kind of shirt would make him seem not entirely trashy, and give off a vibe that isn't too out of the ordinary. An example of the jeans could be this:
An example of the hooded jacket could be:
4. Given the content of the play, how might the lighting design help further the mood of the production? Move thru the play scene by scene to provide a possible progression.
The lighting in the beginning should be dark, to accentuate the darkness and bad things that are about to come. Overall, I think the mood and tone of this play is on the somber and heavier side, so lighting shouldn't be too bright in any of the scenes. One thing the production should focus on is when there are scenes with just two characters talking, the light should only be on them and the rest of the stage should be dark. Attention really needs to be given to the dialogue and action, so making sure we only keep the lighting on the main stuff ensures this will happen. One scene where the light should be bright is when Val lies to Parker. The light being bright can symbolize his growing guilt and the hole he is digging even further as he continues to lie to his superior and society.
5. Suggest music or sound effects that might be used to accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play and the transitions between parts of the play. You might even choose to upload music or sound effects that you think are suitable for the play, or moment in the play, or as pre-show music or transitions from one scene to another.
The music, at certain scenes when they use it, should be powerful and intense. Soothing or "low-key" music shouldn't be used because it doesn't correlate with the atmosphere of this play. Music that arouses the feeling of tension, violence, or adrenaline are perfect, especially for the first scene. The gunshot sound effect should be loud, so it shocks the audience and makes them realize the intensity and dire consequences of Val's actions. With the scenes that show Val's internal thoughts and the guilt racked up, around the time he talks to his dad, music can be somber, but not calm.